D'Ernest_Johnson

D'Ernest Johnson

D'Ernest Johnson

American football player (born 1996)

D'Ernest Johnson Jr. (born February 27, 1996) is an American football running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Florida.

Quick Facts No. 25 – Jacksonville Jaguars, Position: ...

Early years

Johnson attended and played high school football at Immokalee High School.[1] He helped lead the team to the Class 5A regional semifinals where they lost 49–34 to Plantation-American Heritage. Johnson ran for 143 yards, a touchdown, and a 99-yard kickoff return in a game against American Heritage School that included Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie.[2]

College career

Johnson played four years (2014–2017) at South Florida, where he rushed 421 times for 1,796 yards and 16 touchdowns. [3] He finished as USF's career leader in all-purpose yards (4,186), receptions by a running back (73), and receiving yards by a running back (909).[4] He also excelled at returning kicks. Johnson spent three of his four years behind Marlon Mack.[5] Johnson saw limited playing time as a true freshman, then earned a bigger role as a sophomore, scoring five touchdowns on 653 yards from scrimmage and averaging nearly 27 yards per kickoff return. Johnson earned second-team American Athletic Conference honors as a returner in 2016, averaging 28.9 yards per kickoff return and 11.8 yards per punt return, including one score. Johnson's return responsibilities decreased in 2018, playing a bigger role in the Bulls' run-oriented offense, as he rushed for a career high 796 yards and added nine offensive scores.[6]

Professional career

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After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Johnson was invited to the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp but was not signed.[8] Johnson spent the rest of 2018 fishing for mahi mahi in Key West with a friend.[9]

Orlando Apollos

Johnson signed with the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football for its inaugural 2019 season.[10] In eight games with the Apollos, he rushed for 372 yards and added 22 receptions for 220 yards.[11]

Cleveland Browns

After the AAF ceased operations in April 2019, Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns on May 16, 2019.[12] After an impressive training camp, Johnson made the Browns' initial 53-man roster for the 2019 season.[13] Johnson showed off his versatility during the preseason, leading the Browns with 86 rushing yards on 20 carries. He also added seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while also proving value in the return game. The 5-foot-10, 208-pounder returned six kickoffs for 127 yards and 10 punts for 63 yards.[14] He made his regular season debut with one carry for 13 yards in the Browns' 2019 season-opening loss to the Tennessee Titans.[15] He finished the 2019 season with four carries for 21 rushing yards and six receptions for 71 receiving yards.[16]

In Week 4 of the 2020 season, he had 13 carries for 95 rushing yards in a 49–38 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.[17]

On October 21, 2021, he made his first career start against the Denver Broncos, as Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were both ruled out due to injury. Johnson ran for 146 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown, and was named Player of the Game[18][19] and FedEx Ground Player of the Week.[20]

On June 4, 2022, Johnson re-signed with Cleveland on a one-year, $2.43 million contract.[21]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On March 23, 2023, Johnson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[22] He served as the backup to Travis Etienne and as a kick returner.

On March 13, 2024, Johnson re-signed with the Jaguars.[23]

Regular season statistics

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References

  1. [1]
    "D'Ernest Johnson's High School Timeline". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  2. [2]
    Sodergren, Andrew. "Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  3. [3]
    De Groote, J.R. "D'Ernest Johnson Had Wild Profession Before Catching on With Browns". Heavy. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  4. [4]
    Knight, Joey. "Browns sign former USF tailback D'Ernest Johnson". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  5. [5]
    Sodergren, Andrew. "Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  6. [6]
    Rose, Bob. "New Orleans Saints Undrafted Rookie Profile: D'Ernest Johnson". Canal Street Chronicles. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  7. [7]
    "2018 NFL Draft Scout D'Ernest Johnson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  8. [8]
    Sodergren, Andrew. "Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  9. [9]
    De Groote, J.R. "D'Ernest Johnson Had Wild Profession Before Catching on With Browns". Heavy. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  10. [10]
    Knight, Joey. "D'Ernest Johnson, other locals shine in Orlando Apollos triumph". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  11. [11]
    Sodergren, Andrew. "Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  12. [12]
    "Browns sign RB D'Ernest Johnson". ClevelandBrowns.com. May 16, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  13. [13]
    Sodergren, Andrew (August 31, 2019). "Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream by making Browns". Naples News. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  14. [14]
    Sodergren, Andrew. "Immokalee's D'Ernest Johnson fulfills NFL dream, makes Browns to be among locals in NFL". Naples Daily News. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  15. [15]
    "Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns – September 8th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  16. [16]
    "D'Ernest Johnson 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  17. [17]
    "Cleveland Browns at Dallas Cowboys – October 4th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  18. [18]
    "Broncos vs. Browns - Box Score - October 21, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  19. [19]
    "D'Ernest Johnson ready as the next man up in Browns RBs room without Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt". www.clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  20. [20]
    "Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson named FedEx Ground Player of the Week". WJW-TV. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  21. [21]
    "Browns sign RB D'Ernest Johnson". dawgsbynature.com. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  22. [22]
    "Roster Moves: Jaguars Sign Running Back D'Ernest Johnson". Jaguars.com. March 23, 2023.
  23. [23]
    Oehser, John (March 13, 2024). "Official: Running Back D'Ernest Johnson Re-Signs With Jaguars". Jaguars.com.
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